" ANGEL OF ST. LOUIS " ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ Oil Painting 12x12 inches by Artist Debi (Deborah) Frueh ~~~ This series, DIVINE INSPIRATIONS by DEBORAH, is a collection of Paintings and Drawings and more, Also, employing the symbolism of the image of "The Key" while exploring the search for... The Light and The Way. The Salvation of man through the Grace of God, And the Sacrifice involved, The LORD Jesus Christ and His Perfect work on the Cross. ~ Hallelujah !

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Thank You 

BLESSINGS

 To

 All !

"SANTA'S KEY"

" SANTA'S   KEY "

11" x 14"  Oil on Canvas  ARTIST:  Debi Frueh

Giclee Prints Available Click HERE

M   E   R   R   Y        C   H   R   I   S   T   M   A   S   !

. . .  Debi Frueh 2010

"KEY 2b"



          "KEY 2b"            

5"x7"Oil on Canvas Panel  © Debi Frueh 2010

Painted in rich umber tones and black with white highlights, the original painting is in a private collection: Giclee prints are now available in several sizes and colors:

Click HERE to view.

As the title suggests…
With a play on words referring to the great Shakespeare line from Hamlet…
“To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to…”
In regard to this painting “KEY 2b”, (one may notice the tiny “2b” engraved on the key), and might prefix a variety of phrases:
Key 2b… Happy
Key 2b… Successful… etc.
With the use of the skeleton style key as a model,
there is the symbolic affiliation for the ability to unlock many things… To be…
© Debi Frueh 2010

" The Key Of Melencolia " by Debi Frueh

" The Key Of Melencolia "

5" x  7"

oil on canvas

The gold key that I used as a model for my painting is the sweet and modest key to my Father's garage. A key softly worn from years of use and service .  A simple object, but one of beautiful, poignant symbolism for me. This humble key was used daily by my Father to unlock his garage ( his place of interests and relaxing retreat). As on my original Painting "MELENCOLIA", the key is on a black ribbon as a show of mourning the loss of my Beloved Father, but also as a revelation, with the KEY : "Something that opens or prepares a way" ...  To live and the strength and hope it brings to continue on . . .  

THIS KEY PAINTING IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES

To Purchase this Painting ~ First in Series ~ " KEYS OF LIFE "
  copyright Debi Frueh 2010
$300.00
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 
Original Painting

CLICK to View and Purchase Giclee Prints by Debi Frueh

 NOTE : There are two versions of this painting that are available for
Purchase as Giclee Prints on Archival Canvas or Archival Paper :
 Cick HERE To Purchase Giclee Prints by Debi Frueh
Shown Above is  SECOND VERSION  of
 " The Key of Melencolia " with Red tones
Shown in frame as suggestion (  Frame Not Included )

" The Key Of Melencolia "

5" x 7"

oil on canvas

Also Available :
Click HERE To Purchase Giclee Prints by Debi Frueh
This is the   ORIGINAL VERSION  of  " The Key of Melencolia "

THE STORY OF MELENCOLIA BY DEBI FRUEH

8/1/2010 8:32:04 PM by Debi Frueh
Comment on this

" MELENCOLIA " 30" x 40" Oil by Debi Frueh

"THE STORY OF MELENCOLIA"

The Metamorphosis of my Painting " BLUE " ?
To become " MELENCOLIA ", was  not a premeditation,
Therefore, the photographs that I will be showing here,
in this, my "Story of Melencolia", are photographs that
I simply took of my painting "BLUE", ( as first titled ) 
along the way as I painted. If I would have known then,
of the path that this Painting was taking, I would have
taken more photographs of the progression of  "BLUE"
. . . Ah, Yes, . . . Hind sight !

In The Beginning, My Inspiration for the Painting 
"MELENCOLIA",   came to me as if Divinely Inspired.
I was working on another painting at the time,
(a commissioned piece), When suddenly, the image of
the complete composition of "BLUE"  pose, mood,
symbolism and all came into my vision, seemingly out
of nowhere, but then, isn't that the way  . . .
an Inspiration comes ?
.  .  . As a Gift from GOD! 

IMMEDIATELY . . . I began sketching ! 
Shown here, is my first Rough Sketch: done extremely
fast, with a Bic ballpoint pen on whatever scrap piece
of paper that was within reach at the time. . .
I needed to make my THOUGHT of the image, somewhat
more tangible, as my VISION of it developed into
my more Refined Sketch, shown below:

           
"Blue" first rough sketch (close-up)
Debi Frueh © 2008

      
First Rough Sketch of "BLUE" Debi Frueh © 2008
 
Using photographs that I had taken, I was able to
sketch a more defined version of my
first impression of the composition of "BLUE":

"BLUE"  Sketch ~ Graphite on Archival quality paper
8" x 10"  Debi Frueh ©  2008 

I decided on a 30"x40" size gallery-wrap canvas, and
began the painting process: First, with a lean mixture
of GAMBLIN'S  Galkyd Lite Painting Medium mixed
with mineral spirits.  I then, proceeded to paint, using
delicate glazes of Oil Paint and Galkyd Lite throughout
the entire painting progression.
                                                                                                                                                                                                              


"BLUE"   Sketched on canvas 30"x40" Debi Frueh © 2008

Keeping true to my first vision that I had of the pose,
I continued on with the diagonal composition which
emphasizes the drama of the figure, apparently
self-thrown, collapsed in despair, arms crossed and
face buried into the pillow on which they rest.   This is
a show of Great Emotion / Mourning / Lamentation /
Contemplation / Melancholy . . . A feeling of Blue  . . .
And therefore the title ( at this point )  . . . " BLUE ".
Completed Version of "Blue"  
Shown here:

                                                              
                " BLUE "  oil on canvas 30"x40"
                       by Artist Debi Frueh © 2008 

 THIS PAINTING, AS SEEN HERE, NO LONGER EXISTS  !

This Painting "BLUE",  now exists only within . . . 
 "MELENCOLIA". To explain, I will continue on  . . .
with "Blue" / "Melencolia" in  my . . .
"STORY OF MELENCOLIA"

~ " STORY OF MELENCOLIA " ~

Even though my painting "Blue" was
"technically finished", the canvas was covered
completely / the figure was correctly painted / the
composition was as I had envisioned it from the start, 
~  I felt that something was not fulfilling my original
" Divinely Inspired Flash " of the entire painting. 
After living with the painting in my studio for some time,
I decided to transform it. I wanted it to exude that
richness of drama that I had first envisioned . . .
As I had first seen in my "Minds Eye" 
AND,  SO  BEGAN  THE  METAMORPHOSIS . . .
  
I knew I wanted to make these reforms to "Blue", but I
was apprehensive about the drastic color changes
that I was planning to make, To accomplish this, 
and to reassure my concerns,  I tried a new method: 
First ~ I took a photograph of my painting "Blue".
Then, shown here :


I digitally made the changes in my photoshop.
This method was a new approach for me . . . I was very
new at working with photoshop ( and the computer for
that matter ) !   But I found it to be helpful to work out the
changes to my painting on the photoshop image of it,
rather than jumping in with paint on the Original "Blue"
oil on canvas.  Keep in mind, my "Blue" at this   point
was actually considered a Finished Painting  . . .
I had put my signature on it as Finalization ! 
                                                                                   
THE  CHANGES : 
1.)   I decided that I would darken the background,
giving more direction of focus to the back of the figure.  
By changing the entire background to the Dark Umber
that it is now, the light is focused on the vulnerable
back of the figure and actually enhances the effect of
The Saving Light of Revelation / Salvation that I wanted
from my inception of the image.
2.)   I also decided to change the color of the pillow from
the original Blue to a rich Green color,
Green being the symbolic color of Life and Hope. Which
is ultimately the essence of the message of my painting .
3.)  The crystal sphere from which the golden tassel is
attached, is symbolic of . . .
Creative Motion / The World / Wheel of The Spirit of Life.
          
4.)   I wanted to add several details to the revised
painting that I had not included in "Blue", some of
these became very symbolic to me, and one of which, . . .
THE KEY, . . . Has taken on a "LIFE" of it's own ! 
This sweet humble Key is the key to my Father's
garage, as I have explained in more detail
~ and is now being shown in my ongoing
" KEYS OF LIFE " series. 
Click Here to view.
                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
"Blue" Shown here with dark umber background
and the pillow color having been changed from blue
to green, which I was pleased with . 


"Blue" with Dark Umber background and Green velvet pillow
Debi Frueh © 2008



"Blue" 30" x 40" oil on canvas
On the easel in my studio Debi Frueh © 2008

At this point, still somewhat apprehensive about the
decision that I had made about the changes, feeling
as if I were treading on thin ice, I took the next step
in the transformation:
 
Changing the Blue of the Gown . . .
Timidly at first, I applied my color . . . But by the second
or third brushstroke of my beloved rich Cadmium Red
oil paint . . . I was certain that I had made the right
choice, from that point on, I proceeded with BRAVADO  !
Completing the Metamorphosis . . . And, 
Therefore my "BLUE" has become my "MELENCOLIA".


"MELENCOLIA"  30" x 40"oil on canvas
Debi Frueh © 2008

MELENCOLIA  . . .
It has been written, that during the Renaissance,
the influence of Melancholy ( Melencolia )
was believed to have a depressing effect on the Soul
while simultaneously connecting it with Divine State
of Mind, . . . Capable even of Prophecies.

While I was involved in the transformation of "Blue". . .
And upon changing the title of the painting to
"Melencolia", I wanted to learn more about
Albrecht Durer's famous etching "Melencolia  I".
Shown here:

         "MELENCOLIA I"  1514  
Etching by Albrecht Durer 1471 - 1528 

Durer has always been a favorite Artist of mine, I have
a deep respect for his glorious attention to detail and
his intriguing use of symbolism.

After my painting sessions on  "Blue" / "Melencolia",   
I would spend my evenings doing research on Durer's
"Melencolia I".  There are several symbolic references
that I have used, some of which directly correspond to
Durer's,  Others are entirely of my own regard, as I
have listed earlier in this article.

Also, I have in my library, a beautiful book, given
to me by our German (descendant) friend Freddie,
Title: "Durer" / Text by: H.T. Musper  /
Published by: Abrams
There, I found . . . Quote :
"Albrecht Durer's etching "Melencolia I" . . .
The womanly figure should not be interpreted in the
modern sense of melancholy, as the disconsolate
mood, one sick of life or despairing of it .
RATHER . . . It is to be taken as the symbol of a specific
psychological quality possessed by men whose talents
turn toward intellectual creation,
a notion which goes back to Aristotle and Ficino." 
. . .A Type of "KEY". . .Perhaps ? . . .D.F.

. . . It is my hope that you have found my
"STORY OF MELENCOLIA"
Interesting / Informative / and a Pleasure to Read.
 
~ THANK  YOU . . . DEBI FRUEH  © 2010 ~